(a non-profit collective promoting traditional & roots folk
music in London since 1973)
(Direct
from Scotland)
(presented by
Sunfest in cooperation with Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club)
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 – 8:00 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
London Music Hall, 185 Queens Ave, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door (+ s/c)
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
Ground-breaking,
chart-topping, genre-bending, globetrotting, instantly enthralling… it’s little
wonder that Talisk rank highly amongst the
most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade and
more.
Mohsen
Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year), Graeme Armstrong and
Benedict Morris (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year)
fuse concertina, guitar and fiddle to produce a ground-breaking, multi-layered
signature that has captivated audiences around the globe. At its core, three
seemingly acoustic instruments – but in the hands of three master craftsmen;
one unmistakable, bold sound and captivating live show.
Talisk
have toured the world, stacking up major awards for their explosively
energetic, artfully woven sound – including Folk Band of the Year at the BBC
Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, and the Belhaven
Bursary for Innovation. Appearances at leading festivals across multiple
continents have amassed a die-hard following – including closing out Saturday
night’s main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder
Festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysian Borneo, WOMADs UK,
Chile and Las Palmas, Edmonton Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, three
back-to-back years at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and six appearances at
Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.
Following
their critically acclaimed debut, Abyss, Talisk’s
sophomore album, Beyond, quickly amassed five-star reviews and rose to
No.1 in the iTunes world music charts upon its late 2018 release. With
streaming figures into multiple millions, and a third album, Dawn,
released in 2022, audiences worldwide agree with renowned world music magazine
Songlines that Talisk is: “incredibly infectious
and endearing… fresh, invigorating, accomplished.”
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance tickets can
be purchased at Chaucer’s Pub/Marienbad Restaurant, Grooves (Wortley Village),
Long & McQuade North (725 Fanshawe Park W) or online
It has become a tradition for the Friends of Fiddler's Green to visit each season at the Cuckoo's Nest Folk Club. The current band members are Ian Bell, Alistair Brown, Grit Laskin, Jeff McClintock, Ian Robb, and James Stephens. Listen to FOFG at the Cuckoo’s Nest in 2019 https://laurencestevenson.bandcamp.com/album/a-compendium-of-wonders
The "Friends" boast six versatile musicians, five fine singers, three songwriters, brilliant joke tellers, the occasional fiery dragon, one Order of Canada, one Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and one of the longest track records in Canadian Folk Music. The Friends were recipients of the 2003 Estelle Klein Award, given by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (FMO) for service to folk music in Ontario.
This totally uncategorizable collection of Friends has been together, with a few personnel changes, since their inauguration at Toronto's Fiddler's Green coffeehouse in 1971. Nobody, not even the Friends themselves, can predict what might happen during one of their concerts, but it always includes humour, powerful vocal harmony, great musicianship, social commentary and an irresistible urge to tap your feet or sing along.
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
UPCOMING
CONCERTS
(Direct
from Scotland)
with Alanna
Jenish, guitar
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance tickets can
be purchased at Chaucer’s Pub/Marienbad Restaurant, Grooves (Wortley Village),
Long & McQuade North (725 Fanshawe Park W) or online
Ryan Young is leading the 'New Wave' of traditional Scottish Fiddlers. Experience the soul-stirring magic of Scotland's traditional fiddle like never before, as Ryan breathes new life into the rich tapestry of traditional Scottish music. Ryan's fiddle tunes will transport you on an evocative journey and elevate your soul. He was a huge hit at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in August 2023.
Here is a little taste of Ryan Young live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsNeW1FZ_O0
With a Master of Music degree from the famous Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ryan Young has emerged as a rising star on the international music scene. His debut album, a mesmerizing collection of traditional Scottish tunes, was expertly produced and recorded by the renowned Boston-based music producer, Jesse Lewis, right in the heart of Glasgow. Released in 2017, this album is a testament to Ryan's profound musical prowess. The highly acclaimed follow-up 'just a second', also in collaboration with Jesse, was released in the UK in October 2023. By joining forces with Jesse Lewis, Ryan Young stands shoulder to shoulder with an elite league of musicians who have collaborated with the likes of The Silk Road Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, Jan Vogler, and Brooklyn Rider. Embark on a musical adventure with Ryan Young, where tradition meets innovation, and melodies weave a timeless tale of Scotland's musical heritage - be part of a transformative experience.
'....a force of nature” ***** (5 STARS)' - The Scotsman
'....I have known Ryan for many years and have watched his steady progress from student to accomplished fiddle player. He has created his own unique way of playing and is finding great emotional depth in his native Scottish Music. Ryan Young is an up-and-coming musician who is gaining more and more well deserved recognition. I feel that he has the potential to make a very significant contribution to the Scottish tradition' - Martin Hayes
'....Being a fiddler myself I have heard many, many up and coming fiddlers from Scotland, but I am blown away by this singular musician Ryan, I feel, is a musician with a great gift. He has followed down a path that is his alone with the music. His playing is unique and soulful. I’ve heard him in concert and can only liken the experience to being lifted and taken on a journey. His playing is at once moving and thrilling, and he sweeps the audience along with him.' - Liz Caroll
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
(Direct
from Scotland)
(presented by
Sunfest in cooperation with Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club)
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 – 8:00 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Metropolitan United Church, 468 Wellington St, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
Securely ranked among Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts, Breabach unite deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative Scottish music scene. 2022 saw them release their latest studio album Fàs and be awarded ‘Folk Band of the Year’ at the BBC ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. Breabach are Megan Henderson (Fiddle/Vocals), James Lindsay (Double Bass/Vocals), Calum MacCrimmon (Highland Bagpipe/Whistle/Bouzouki/Vocals), Conal McDonagh (Highland Bagpipe/Whistle/Vocals) and Ewan Robertson (Guitar/Cajon/Vocals). Due to the recent birth Megan Henderson’s new baby girl, she is being replaced for this tour by Jenna Moynihan (Fiddle/Vocals).
To date Breabach has released seven increasingly acclaimed albums, whilst fuelling their creative appetites in collaborations with BAFTA award winning animator Cat Bruce on short film Dùsgadh, indigenous Australasian artists Moana & The Tribe, Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord, video game composer Big Giant Circles and as artists-in-residence at 2019’s Celtic Colours festival with Cape Bretoners Beòlach.
2023 saw the band present their music widely across the United States, the UK and Europe with 2024 set for more performances in North America and beyond. Fàs (a Gaelic word meaning growth) is an album heavily inspired by the natural environment of Scotland and sees the band showcase more progressive elements in their music than ever before. The protection, conservation and regeneration of the natural world influenced every part of the album making process, from song composition and sourcing material to the recording process and album production.
Breabach’s 19-year adventure has included live performances from Sydney Opera House to Central Park New York, Cambridge Folk Festival to WOMAD New Zealand. They have racked up an impressive array of accolades including six 'Scots Trad Music Awards', nominations as ‘Best Group’ (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards), ‘European Album of the Year’ (Songlines Music Awards) and the 'Quarterly Critic's Choice' (German Record Critic's Award 2023).
“Matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set” ★★★★★ - The Scotsman
“Exhilarating,
energetic and accomplished” - Songlines
For Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
Joe
Jencks
is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning
songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory
training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers
engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having
penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor,
Jencks was also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun.
From
festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like
Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with
his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty,
social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted
instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric
baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
“The
spirit of Folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who
carries on the traditions.”
- Pete Seeger
In
August of 2022, Jencks released his 17th recording, The Coming of the Years,
an album that stands firmly in the modern Celtic traditions and is still
quintessentially a Joe Jencks record. Centered around songs Jencks wrote while
on tour in Ireland over a 12-year period, this album emerges as a synergistic
blend of past and present merging with themes of immigration spanning multiple
generations. The album was received with critical acclaim.
“A
man with a golden voice who has a great feeling for history, and the role that
songs play in documenting that history. The Coming of the Years, by Joe Jencks
is a gorgeous record.”
- Luka Bloom
“Interspersing
his own songs inspired by visits to Ireland to explore his heritage with
carefully chosen covers and traditional pieces, Joe Jencks weaves a tapestry of
love, immigration, history, and Irish pride. The instrumental arrangements
support the vocals tenderly, giving Jencks' deep warm voice space to bring the
lyrics to the fore. The Coming of the Years is an audio treat and a history
lesson.”
- Paul Hartman, Host, "Detour” WTMD, Baltimore & Founder of Dirty
Linen Magazine
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
Storytelling
through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music, and Matthew Byrne
does this brilliantly. His musical upbringing has shaped his repertoire, and
Byrne supports this tradition with powerful vocals, polished guitar work, and a
presence that fills the room. With parents who were both singers and song
collectors and a strong family focus on sharing songs, Byrne has inherited a
unique repertoire and a fascination with unearthing and reimagining traditional
songs. “What attracts me to a traditional song is the right combination of
melody and language, which have always fascinated me.”
For Matthew, songs
are ways of understanding people before him...their lives, work, language, and
worldview. “I see songs as sources of the past—windows into my own family
history. Traditional music has always been the most important tool for me to
understand where I come from and who I am. My live performance is meant to take
audiences on a journey through the lineage of my repertoire and share what
these songs have revealed to me.”
Matthew recently
recorded his 4th studio album in Sheffield, UK, and will release it in Fall
2024. Folk legend Martin Simpson produced this latest project, which features
instrumentation from some of the finest musicians on the English folk scene,
including Nancy Kerr, Andy Cutting, Liz Hanks, James Fagan, Louis Campbell, and
Ben Nicholls. Matthew Byrne’s previous two recordings each won Traditional
Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and his highly anticipated
4th recording will grab further attention from traditional audiences on both
sides of the Atlantic.
“Matt’s interpretation of traditional songs
is somehow fresh and ancient at the same time. And his voice is friggin’ perfect.” — Alan Doyle
“His reverence and respect for his material,
along with his unabashed exploration of new songs and his staggeringly
beautiful voice, makes for the rarest and most vital type of folk performer.” — Tom Power, Host of 'Q' on CBC Radio 1
“Matthew Byrne sings with a voice as true as
a compass needle and is a dab hand on his instruments as well. His “Ballads” is
one of the finest english language traditional albums
to come out in many a year.” — James Keelaghan
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
“Songs
for the Snowy Season”
Sunday, December 15, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$25 Advance / $30 at the Door
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
Boreal is the magical musical collaboration of Tannis
Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley and Angie Nussey. These three
hard working singer-songwriters, each with their own longstanding, award
winning careers, simply love playing music together. In the winter, Boreal
shines their collective light on Canada’s coldest months with their show “Songs
for the Snowy Season”. The trio’s spell binding harmonies combined vocal
prowess and tour-de-force songwriting make for a powerful musical event. With
humour, storytelling and heart melting honesty, Boreal takes their audience on
a journey of friendship, laughter and connection.
Boreal
began in 2006, when singer-songwriters Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, and
Jude Vadala gathered around Jude’s kitchen table with the idea to create a show
that would kickstart the winter with excitement and joy. Audiences were
enthralled and so the harmonious trio took their show Songs for the Snowy
Season to soft seat theatres across Ontario. Their stage show eventually
turned into a masterfully recorded album called Winter’s Welcome which
was released in 2014.
In
2019, Jude Vadala lovingly retired from Boreal and was replaced by Angie Nussey
(singer/songwriter/producer) who enjoyed one tour with Boreal before the COVID
pandemic. In the more isolated months, and with the momentum of learning
to work ‘together-alone’, Boreal began recording individual parts on songs from
their respective home studios and were able to release Katherine’s Snow
Falls Down in November 2020.
Boreal
will release a new winter CD in December 2024. It will be their first full
recording with Angie, who’s songs Shepherd of The Road, Snowball Fight
of ’92, and Warm Hands, bring a robust dose of first-hand winter
experience.
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
Friday, December 20, 2024 – 7:30 pm
(Doors at 7:00 pm)
Chaucer’s Pub, 122 Carling Street, London
$10 at the door
(or Pay What You Can)
Advance
tickets can be purchased online
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
The Marienbad Restaurant is
open for dinner on concert days.
Concert day diners
can reserve their seats in Chaucer’s prior to doors opening.
Make your reservation by
calling 519-679-9942
All concerts at begin at 7:30 pm and most are held at Chaucer's,
122 Carling Street, London, ON
(unless otherwise indicated)
Advance tickets can be purchased during the season at
Chaucer's/Marienbad Restaurant, Long & McQuade North (Fanshawe Park Rd W).
For
Information call 519-319-5847 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com
Special
Advance “5-for-4” Multi-Ticket is available for $100 only
at the Concerts
(pay
for 4 concerts and get the 5th one free)
We continue
to be a completely volunteer run organization. We thank you for your support of
live music and look forward to seeing you at the concerts. – Ian Davies, Artistic Director.
(last update August 28, 2024)
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